Mesa Verde National Park

Anchors

Step into the past and experience the lives of one of America’s oldest cultures, the Pueblo people. Listen to the stories these cliffs tell and reflect how man can weave his life so seamlessly with nature.

About

Mesa Verde Information

Mesa Verde National Park’s cliff dwellings are just one wonder to be found at this national park in Colorado, which also includes protected wilderness.

Mesa Verde National Park’s cliff dwellings are just one wonder to be found at this national park in Colorado, which also includes protected wilderness.

“There is nothing so American as our national parks. ... It is, in brief, that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us.”— President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Located in Southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde, "Green Table" in Spanish, National Park offers an unparalleled opportunity to see and experience a unique cultural and physical landscape. Including more than 4,000 known archeological sites dating back to A.D. 550, this national treasure protects the cliff dwellings and mesa top sites of pit houses, pueblos, masonry towers, and farming structures of the Ancestral Pueblo peoples who lived here for more than 700 years. This national park gives us a glimpse into the places and stories of America’s diverse cultural heritage.

The cliff dwellings are some of the most notable and best preserved sites in the United States. After living primarily on the mesa top for 600 years, the Ancestral Pueblo peoples began building structure under the overhanging cliffs of Mesa Verde—anything from one-room storage units to villages of over 150 rooms. Decades of excavation and analysis still leave many unanswered questions, but have shown us that the Ancient Pueblans were skillful survivors and artistic craftsmen.

National Park Foundation has worked hard to preserve the important Hopi culture, whose lives are intertwined with the mysterious homes in the cliffs as well as the Pueblo people. Our programs team worked with partners to create an innovative way to preserve this culture through multimedia efforts.

Our Impact in the Parks

Visiting Mesa Verde

“So much mystery surrounds the ruins of the Ancients. It is with the greatest reverence that we study the lifestyle they adopted and wonder at the various theories as to why they left. This particular ruin is one of our favorites. It wasn't until our 3rd or 4th visit that we discovered the secret to the exact time and season when refracted sunlight transforms the alcove into a stunning jewel. The ceiling has spalled, and the exposed watermark is just another grace note that captures the eye of the camera.”

Historical & Cultural Winner - David Regala

Map of the Park

Mesa Verde National Park

P.O. Box 8

Mesa Verde National Park
, CO

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Park Weather

The weather in the American Southwest is pleasant nearly year-round, and Mesa Verde is no exception. Snowstorms aren’t out of the question in the winter though, and summer does get very dry and hot. It’s important to note that not all areas of the full park are open year-round, including the ranger station.

Tours and Camping

Ticketed tours are required to visit the most popular destinations at Mesa Verde, Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Long House. Self-guided tours are also available for other portions of the cliff dwellings, including Step House. Camping is available by reservation on-site as well.

Wildlife in the Park

The park also offers visitors 8,500 acres of federally designated wilderness that support a wide variety of animal species, including 74 species of mammals, 200 species of birds, 16 species of reptiles, five species of amphibians, six species of fishes and over 1,000 species of insects and other invertebrates.